Toothbrushes



Aug. 19, 1958 G. HlRscHx-ELDT 2,848,002

TooTHBRusHEs Filed July 31, 1957 this, that the hollow handle United States Patent O 2,848,002 TOOTI-IBRUSHES Georg Hirschfeldt, Los Teques, Venezuela Application July 31, 1957, Serial No. 675,383 1 Claim. (Cl. 132-79) The invention relates to improvements in toothbrushes, and particularly is directed to a toothbrush having a plurality of replaceable brush bodies removably arranged in a hollow handle.

In order to prevent for hygenic reasons the reuse of the brush bristles of a toothbrush once used, it has been proposed heretofore to provide small boundles of bristles with a ferrule similar to a paintbrush and to mount these small brushes consecutively and removably in the handle of a tooth cleansing device which may also be used as a brush. In this known arrangement the bristles are disposed in axial direction of the handle and there-- fore extend in longitudinal direction 'of the same, both in condition of use and non-use. The manipulation of the toothbrush is therefore unnnaturally altered and the cleansing effect is reduced.

Furtherfore, toothbrushes with replaceable brush bodies disposed in a hollow shaft are known in which the bristles of the individual brush bodies when in use extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the brush handle. The bristle holders are formed in such manner that they may be fastened to a bristle plate of the toothbrush by means of threads. The disadvantage of this type of construction is that not more than two replaceable brush bodies can be placed in the hollow handle and the elTort made to provide replaceable brush bodies is in no relation to the eiciency aimed at.

It is an object of the invention to provide the replaceable brush bodies With a plate-shaped holder which may be replaceably attached to the operating end of the toothbrush handle by sliding on or plugging. The ad- `vantage of the invention consists in this, that on the one hand the conventional shape of the toothbrush is not changed and therefore the conventional handle of the brush may be retained. Another advantage consists in of the brush may hold at least seven replaceable brush bodies.

For antiseptic reasons the replaceable individual brush bodies are placed in a suitable wrapping which is removed prior to the use of the brush.

The drawing illustrates by way of example one embodiment of the invention in a longitudinal sectional view.

The toothbrush handle la is provided with a lengthwise extending cavity or bore in which are placed a number of brush bodies, each consisting of a holder 2a and bristles 2b. The cavity or bore is open toward the end of the handle 1a which is opposite the brush carrying end 1b. In case of use, a brush body taken from the cavity is attached with its holder 2a to the bristle end 1b of the handle la by a sliding movement'or otherwise, for example by means of a springlike snap member. The open end of the bore or cavity of the handle 1a is closed by a removable cap 3 to which is attached a bar 4 in such manner that upon withdrawal of the cap 3 the outermost brush body, namely, the one next to the cap 3 drops from the cavity. For this purpose the bar 4 has on its outer end a laterally extending portion 4a, engaging the innermost brush body 2b. The bristle portion 2b of all replaceable brush bodies is provided with a wrapping 5 which is removed prior to use of the brush body attached to the handle end 1b.

The bristles of the replaceable brush bodies preferably are provided with a suitable tooth cleansing substance which is protected by the wrapping. After removal of the mentioned wrapping the brush body is ready for use and immersion in water.

What I claim is:

In a toothbrush, a hollow handle, a plurality of replaceable brush bodies in said handle, means on one end of said handle for attaching thereon one of said brush bodies, each of said brush bodies comprising a holder and bristles on said holder, said holder having means thereon to cooperate with said means on said handle end to attach said holder to said handle, said hollow handle having a bore open at the end of the handle which is References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 730,040 McKinley et al June 2, 1903 

